357 mag 180 loads, help

[JSH]

I am looking for some tried and true loads with the RCBS 180 Sil. bullet. Also have a 180 that is similar to and LBT style bullet, the LEE 6 banger group buy. Need somthing that will do 200M fairly well. This will be in a 10" TC BTW.
Thanks in advance.
Jeff

[BOOM BOOM]

HI,
I just got the saeco 180 w/ gc. & will be looking for good loads in a ruger single action w/ a 8& 1/2 in. barrel. I will probibly try 700X & 2400 first as that's what iI have on hand.

[BlueMoon]

I've used a True Shot hard cast plain base 180grn bullet with 15.0grn LilGun in my 6" GP-100 and got some of the best ever accuracy for my 50yd target. My old guns about half wore out but it cronyed at 1248fps.

I'm casting a #358429 170 plain base that weighs 165grns when lubed. I used 18.0grns LilGun with it for over 1350fps but haven't had much chance to play with the load yet.

Bill

[JSH]

Bill, thanks.
Just loaded 100 with 14.0 of Lil'gun. Will see how they work. Another gent and now you have pointed me in that direction with this combo. Had the Lil'gun here to fool with 22 hornet and never did.
jeff

[MT Gianni]

With my blackhawk and rated for blackhawks only I have shot the lbt 180 fn [187 my alloy] with WW cases and small RIFLE magnum primers 15.5 gr wc820. The Info I had used AA#9 @ 16 grains but I settled at 15.5 for accuracy. Did not chronograph and this is a warm load. Gianni.

[Magnum Mike]

Let us know how that combo works out for you Jeff as i recently acquired another of those molds and am keeping this one. I am going to use it with Bue Dot for my son in the S&W 66 we recently picked up...

[bobthenailer]

i have the saeco #396 tc plane base, a saeco # 354 fpgc and a custom lee wfngc all 180 grain bullets and a rcbs 35-200 gr fn they shoot well in my various 357 but i would recommend the rcbs 35-200fn gc in a single shot pistol it is probly the most accurate bullet you can use in the 357 bore dia expesually at extended ranges, and it doesent use any more powder space than a 158 gn swc ( more room for powder /more velocity) and probly the best bc and sd of the above bullets allthough all are accurate the rcbs 35-200 is the hands down winner !

[JSH]

Well, I shot 50 of the 180's and Lil'gun combos. On paper at 50M all I can say is that I am more than pleased. Load is not light but not real heavy either. Pretty much duplicated the groups posted here,

http://www.lasc.us/RangingShotFreedomArms357CastBulletPT2.htm

I went with
Starline 357 mag brass, new unfired
RCBS 180 Sil GC, FWFL
Lil'gun 14.0
Federal GM205M primers

Mike, I have not looked to see if this was a TC or Ruger load only. I would say that the lad should be able to handle this load pretty well in a wheel gun. My son started out shooting the SW 19 with 38 loads. Then I gave him a few of the mid range 357 mag loads. He went to the 357 loads and left the 38's. About every 3 shots all he could do was turn around a grin at ya. May have created a monster.
Jeff

[BlueMoon]

The Saeco #396-180grn-tc plain base looks just like the OT True Shot bullets I tried in my gun, and they only need a OAL of 1.610" to catch the crimp groove. It was to most accurate bullet I had tried, so far, in my 6" Ruger. I see they make the same mold in gc form. I just wish it wasn't a tc design. How come so many tc lead bullets shoot so well from my gun when I like a bigger flat bullet tip for several reasons?

JSH, I'm glad your use of LilGun turned out so well. I've heard of a few people trying and liking the Alliant 410 powder but have not used that one and there seems to be plenty of people who use the surplus powders like WC820 or whatever. I've been using some AA Solo #4100 that's a little slower than their #9 and it looks good too.

Bill

edit: I used the RP 5 1/2 primers, S/L brass with my loads with LilGun, which I got pretty cheap from a place called Blue Star up in Searcy, AR., but use regular RP or WW primers with it in large primer cases.

[felix]

Bill, I shoot both of those saeco 180 grainer boolits, the flat nose and the truncated nose, but both are with the gas check design. In the pistols I tend to refrain from using them because of their weight, with emphasis on the lyman boolits, using the Thompson when a check is needed, otherwise the 150 grainer Keith, both for all around pistol accuracy. But when graduating to the rifle cases, like 35 rem and whelen, then the 180's come out in full force at 2400 fps goals. The TC in indeed more accurate and can be easily seen as such when shooting cans at 100-150. There is not enough practical difference in accuracy when the range is shorter, or when shooting out of the pistol cases. ... felix

[BlueMoon]

Thanks Felix, I thought maybe I was the only one who noticed that tc cast bullets were more accurate in my .357 revolver. Or, maybe it was just my gun. I started using the #358429 170 Keith (164grns lubed, my alloy) in my 6" Ruger and it seems good but haven't tried any 150 Keith or Thompson type bullets that I know of. I have a Lee 150 lswc pb mold but have never gotten much accuracy with it. It doesn't seem to fill out right and I end up re-melting half the bullets or more. And I finally bought a RCBS 158gc swc mold (162grns gc'ed and lubed, my alloy) and have some loaded but not tested yet. So, I finally had to buy some 38 caliber gas checks and I guess the next mold I buy will be a 180gc design. I only have one Saeco mold but like it fine and use Redding dies for a few rifles and profile crimp for .38/357, so I'll probably look close at one of those.

Bill

[StarMetal]

I shoot a TC RCBS designed bullet out of my 38/45 conversion for my 70 series Colt 1911 Gold Cup. I didn't mention how good it shoots because I didn't want to get involved. I shot the dickens out of this round back in the early 80's and yes for Carpetman, this one does shoot a ragged hole at 25 yards from a 1911.

Joe